Solid tire cushion wheel



Oct. 30, 1945. P. MURPHY SOLID TIRE CUSHION WHEEL Filed Nov. 28, 1944 '1 N V EN TOR.

Y. w m u n M y K m Patented Oct. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT- SOLID TIRE CUSHION WHEEL I Peter Murphy, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application November 28, 1944, Serial No. 565,479

7 .Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a solid tire cushion wheel; and particularly constitutesan improvement over my United States Letters Patent N 0. 2,333,947 granted November 9, 1943. I

I have found that in my prior invention it is quite difiicult to replace a pneumatic cushion when it leaks, or becomes worn. From my experiments it appears quite certain that the public would experience this same difiiculty. In the instant invention I have improved the pneumatic cushioning in such a way that it absolutely eliminates any possibility of any of the pneumatic cushions leakingafter occasion requiresthat they be replaced.

More specifically, in this present invention, I make use of a removable resilient pneumatic unit. The unit includes all of the pneumatic cushions required for the wheel. The wheel is so constructed that the unit may easily be removed and replaced. The dominating feature of the improvement resides in the fact that it is impossible for any of the pneumatic cushions toleak because the unit is complete and enclosed. No skill is required to mount it in position.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of an improved solid tire cushion wheel which is simple and durable, and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehenson of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref- .erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a solid tire cushion wheel constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion thereof being broken away to disclose interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the removable resilient cushioning unit.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The new and improved solid tire cushion wheel, in accordance with this invention, includes a plurality of segmental rim sections l0 supporting a solid tire H. These rim sections In have the usual inter-engaging parts l2 to hold them in relative positions in the usual way. Each rim section is provided with-a supporting spoke or piston 14 which slidably engages into a cylinder l5 of a hub section of the wheel. This hub section has a fixed back plate I l, a fixed annular outer front strip I3 and a removable inner front .in the cylinders 15.

plate I6. The main inner portions of the cylinders 15 are formed half in the removable plate l6 and half in the hub plate IT. The outer pertions of said cylinders l5 are formed half in the back plate l1 and half in the annular outer front strip 13. The annular outer front strip 13 is welded to the back plate I l.

The hub back plate I! connects with a hub portion !8 by which the wheel is mounted upon the wheel axle l9, in the usual way. The cylinders l5 and pistons 14 are provided with pneumatic cushioning means in the nature of'a removable resilient unit 2|], see Fig. 3. This resilient unit 20 is provided with expansible and contractable bags or bellows portions 2 I located with- The bellows portions '21 are connected together by a tube portion 22. Each bellows portion 21 connects with a tubular stem 23 which in turn is connected with an annular tube 24. This annular tube 24 is provided with the usual tire valve 25. The tire valve 25 projects through an opening 26 formed in the removable front plate IB. The front plate l6 is releasibly held in position by a plurality of studs 28. These studs 28 are welded upon the hub back plate I! and merely pass through openings in the front plate l6. Lock nuts 29 are removably mounted on the studs 28.

The pneumatic cushioning unit 20 is associated with means for releasibly mounting it on the hub back plate IT. For this purpose each bellows portion 2| is provided with a flange 3U engageable in a complementary groove 3| formed half in the front plate 16 and half in the hub plate I]. That portion of the groove 3| in the hub plate I1 is formed with a bayonet or arcuate slot 32.. Each flange 30 has a small projection or pimple 33 which is adapted to engage the bayonet or arcuate slot 32 for releasibly holding each bellows portion 2| in position on the hub plate I! so that it may be removed when desired.

The operation of the new and improved solid tire cushion wheel is as follows:

The rim section works identically as explained in my prior invention. However, when a leak" develops in the cushioning unit 20 it is a simple matter to replace this unit. The wheel must be jacked up so as to take the weight of the vehicle 01f of it. Then the nuts 29 are removed to release the front plate IS. The plate [6 is removed. The spokes or pistons 14 will be slidably retained in the top portions of the cylinders I5, that is, in the portions in back of the annular outer front strip IS. The pneumatic cushioning unit 20 maintains out from the slot 32. This frees the pneumatic appended claims.

upon said hub plate.

and the bellows portion is turned approximately-,5

90 back to its original position. In this way each bellows portion 2| is mounted on the hub plate [1. The front plate I6 is then remounted in position.

It should be noted that the front plate ifi'and the hub plate I! are formed with suitable recesses or grooves for accommodating and holding the tubular stems 23 and the annular tube 24. These grooves, or recesses are formed half in the front plate i6 and half in the hub plate ll.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in th Having thus described my invention, what Letters Patent is:

1. In a solid tire cushion wheel having a pluralof cylinders formed half in said hub, plate and half in said front plate and pistons connected ,I claim as new and desire to secure by United States with said rim sections and engaging into said cylinders for movably connecting said rim sections "and hub sections, pneumatic cushioning means for "s'aid cylinders and pistons, comprising a removable'resilient unit with bellows portions within said cylinders, tube portions connecting said bellows portions, and an air valve for supplying said unit with air. 7

"2. In a solid tire cushion wheel having a plurality of segmental rim sections for supporting a tire,

and a removable front plate and a plurality of cylinders formed half in said hub plate and half in said front plate and pistons connected with said rim sections and engaging into said cylind'ers for movably connecting said rim sections and hub. section, pneumatic cushioning means for said cylinders and pistons, comprising a removable resilient unit with bellows portions within said cylinders, tube portions connecting said bellows porand having a hub section with a back hub plate.

.means for said cylinders and pistons, comprising tions, and an air valve for supplying said unit with 1- air, said tube portions comprising stem portions connected with the bellows and connecting with anannular tubular portion. t

3. In a solid tire cushion wheel having a plural- 'ity of segmental rim sections for supporting a tire, and having a hub section with a back hub plate and a removable front plate and a plurality of cylinders formed half in said hub plate and half in said frontplate and pistons connected with said rim sections and engaging into said cylinders for movably connecting said rim'section's and hub section, pneumatic cushioning means for said cyl inders and pistons, comprising a removable resilient unit with bellows portions within said cylinders, tube portions connecting said bellows por-- tions, and an air valve for supplying said unit with air, and means for releasably mounting said unit 1 4. In a solid tire cushion wheel havinga plui ders.-

, means for said cylinders and pistons, comprising a removable resilient unit with bellows portions within said cylinders, tube ortions connecting said bellows portions, and an air valve for supplying said unit with air, and means for releasably mounting said unit upon said hub plate, comprising flange portions on said bellows engaging grooves formed in said hub plate. a

5. In a solid tire cushion wheel having a plurality of segmental rim sections for supporting a tire, and having a hub section with a back hub plate and a removable front plate and a plurality of cylinders formed half in said hub plate and half in said front plate and pistons connected with said rim sections and engaging into said cylinders for movably connecting said rim sections and hub section, pneumatic cushioning means for said cylinders and pistons, comprising a removable resilient unitwith bellows portions within said cylinders, tube portions connecting said bellows portions, and an air valve for supplying said unit with air, and means for releasably mounting said unit upon said hub plate, comprising flange portions on said bellows engaging grooves formed in said hub plate, said flange portions having small projections engaging arcuate slots in said grooves.

6. In a solid tire cushion wheel having a plurality of segmental rim sections for supporting a tire, and having a hub section with a back hub plate and a removable front plate and a plurality of cylinders formed half in said hub plate and half in said front plate and pistons connected with said rim sections and engaging into said cylinders for movably connecting said rim sections and hub section, pneumatic cushioning a removable resilient unit with bellows portions within said cylinders, tube portions connecting said bellows portions, and an air valve for supplying said unit with air, and said hub section also having an annular outer front strip fixedly mounted on said fixed back plate, and said cylinders having outer portions formed half'in said front strip and half in said back strip.

'7. In a solid tire cushion wheel having a plurality of segmental rim sections for supporting a tire, and having a hub section with a back hub ,within said cylinders, tube portions connecting said bellows portions, and an air valve for sunplying said unit with air, and said hub section having an annular ortion radially outside of said removable front late and said annular portion being formed with outer portions of said cylin- PE'IER MURPHY. 

